The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-19
ARLINGTON


"At tho hour when other schoolboys went
to play ho hurried homo TO order his mothers
drive, and would carry her in his arms to tho
carriage, and arrange her cushions with tho
gcntlencss or IN cNpc!" ,nccu nurse. Ono Of
his relatives, who wcS .ften Tho companion Of
these drives, still lives. Sho tells us Of tho
eXertlons hc would m;eic to entertain and
amuso his mother, assuring her. with the
gravity Of al old man, that unless sho was
cheerful tho drive would not benefit her.
When she complained of cold or draughts
he would pull from his pocket a great jack
knifo and newspaper and mako her laugh
with his efforts to improvso curtains and
shut out tho intrusive wind which whistlcd
through tho croviccs Of the old family coach.
"When he left her to 60 to West Point his
mothor said: How can 1.-Two without Roberta
1Io Is both son and daughter to NO.
"Years after, when ho camo home from
West Point, ho found ono of tho chief actors
Of his chilthood's dramn-his mothers old
coachman, 'Nnp--ill and threatened with
consumption. He immediately took him 10
tho mildcr climate of Georgia., nurscd him
with tho Tenderness Of son, and secured for
him tho best medical help. But tho spring.
time saw tho faithful Old servant laid in tho
gravo by tho hands Of his kind young
master"
No man, however renowned in public life,
can be said to havo reached n symmetrical
development Of character, who is not habitu-
ally courteous and considerable toward those
whom ho daily comes i'll contact. Tho def
milton Of u gentleman given by Princeton
college would havo fitted General Leo per-
fcctly: "One who habitually considers tho
happiness md comfort Of others before his
own"
General Lco'S first teacher was Mr.. w. b.
Leary, MI Irish gentleman, learned and very
efficient as q teacher. Undor his tuition tho
future general acquired knowledge of and
fondness for tho classics. Tho rlastor and
pupil wcrc warm friends throughout life.
When it was decided that he WAS to go to
West Point no entered tho school Of Mr.
Benjamin Hallowoll, who was for many years
q famous teacher in Alexandria, in order to
perfect himself in mathematics. Elr. Halo
well, though n strong Unionst during tho
war, always spoke enthusiastically OF Lee.
Ilo was 18 years old when he entered
West Point, where ho was Il favoi'ito with
cadets, professors and officers, and was grad
uated second in oil unusually brilliant class,
without over having rcceiy ed single donlcl'it.
Soon after lie was called to tho dcathbcd Of
his mother whom he nurscd to her dying
hour with tho tcndcreSt devotion. IIo oftrn
said that to her ho "owcd everything"
iis Marriage md Military Service I'm
dor Cen Scott.
On Juno SO, 1881, ho married Mary Ran
dolph Custis, only daughter of George Wash
ington ParRo Custis the grandson Of Martha
Washington and adopted son Of George Wash
ington. by this marriage Lieut.. Leo became
n frequent resident ct Arlington, his wifo's
homo; tho Arlington that was oven then his
toric because Of tho treasures Of Washington
it contained, but which is doubly so now, be-
cause Of tho National cemetery located on
Arlington heights. This antique mansion is
located OIL the heights opposite Washington
city. Tho place was also tho first camping
ground of tho Federal army upon its entry
into Virginia sixty years after WoShingtolts
death.
On leaving West Point, Robert e. Lee
received tho appointment Of second lleutcn.
ant in tho corps Of engineers, and was first
ordered to Cockspur Island, near Savannah.
After his marriage ho was sent to Old Point,
Va, where ho remained for thrco years. In
1885 bo was appointed assistant surveyor